Saint James the Apostle Parish Church, commonly known as the Church of Paete, is the only Roman Catholicchurch in Paete, Laguna, Philippines. Its patron saint is James the Apostle and his feast is celebrated every July 25. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of San Pablo. The church is known for its huge and exquisite collection of images depicting the Passion of Christ, its century-old paintings and wooden images of saints (or poon).
Paete was established as town in 1580 by Franciscan priest Fray Juan Plasencia under the patronage of Saint Lawrence.[1][2] Due to the scarcity of religious men, it was annexed to the visita of Lumban until October 20, 1600, and to Pangil until 1602.[1] The first parish priest of Paete, Fray Pedro de Buenaventura, was appointed in 1602.[1] The first stone church and convent were built by Paete natives under the supervision of Fray Andres de Puertellanoin 1646 but it was later destroyed by an earthquake in 1717.[2] A new stone church was started the same year under Fray Francisco de la Fuente.[2][3] It was completed in 1840 under the term of Fray Luis de Nambroca[3][4]. The church and convent were again destroyed by the 1880 Luzon earthquake.[2][5] Father Gregorio Martin built a temporary small church of 33m (108ft) by 13.2m (43ft) by 8.6m (28ft).[6] In 1884, the church was rebuilt under Father Pedro Galiano, now facing the Laguna lake but this was again destroyed by another earthquake on August 20, 1937.[2] The church served as a dungeon and torture house to the people of Paete during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II.
Features
Church interior in 2010
The church is 42m (138ft) long by 7m (23ft) thick by 42m (138ft) wide.[7] The church underwent a lot of renovation due to natural calamities. With a long history of losing the church building to earthquakes, the current baroque mission church has large buttresses on each side to improve its earthquake resistance.[8] It was made of volcanic tuff bricks. The church has an elaborate baroque style with a fusion of oriental artistry.
Façade
The church's facade is divided by a frieze that continues around the adjoining bell tower. It has bas reliefs of leaves and flowers and a sculpted image of St. James depicted as a Santiago Matamoros (Saint James the Moor-slayer) in a central niche of the upper story. The relief of Saint James is no longer the original image. The present relief which replaced the original one was installed in 1804.[7] The triangular stepped pediment has a circular aperture directly above the image of St. James. Several arched windows decorate the bell tower.
Altar
The main retablo of the church is of three storeys, flanked by two side retablos, both of two storeys. Two more side retablos can be seen in the north and south transept. The intricate retablo pieces were made by Paete natives; among them were Bartolome Palatino and Francisco Macahumpan.[9]
The uppermost niche of the main altar features the crucified Christ, the center niche (from left to right)contains images of St. Pedro Bautista, St. James and St. John Capistrano. The bottommost level contains St Peter and St Paul, with the tabernacle in the middle. Infront of this main altar is an altar table added under the auspices of Vatican II.
On the south transept are two more altars, the one closest to the main altar contains a bas relief of the Pentacost at the top, with statues of St. Rose de Lima, St. Joseph and St. Anthony de Padua at the bottom. The other side altar contains the crucified Christ at the top and the pieta at the bottom.
Across the Juicio Final mural is reliquary containing two silver medals and a rock from St. James tomb given by the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostella in Spain.
Murals
The large wall paintings on wood panels inside the church were executed by another notable son of Paete, Luciano Dans. These depict Langit, Lupa, Impiyerno – Heaven, Earth, Hell – and large murals of Saint Christopher. Dans used natural color pigments mixed with volcanic ash and brushes made from cats' hair to create the murals.[10] The large painting of San Cristobal on wood was purchased during the time of Father Francisco de Santa Gonzaleza for ₱22 in October 1852.[6] Unfortunately, the two St. Christopher paintings currently need immediate conservation; a lot of wood panels inside the church, including the painted wood panels, are infested by termites.[11][12]
Another mural created by an unknown artist and the oldest among all murals inside the church is the Last Judgment or Juicio Final painted around 1720. It is located near the church altar.[13]
San Cristobal "I" - the "Indio" form painting on the actual wall
San Cristobal "II"- the "European" form painting which used to cover the San Cristobal "I"
Langit, Lupa and Impierno by Josef Luciano Dans
Juicio Final- a painting of the Last Judgement
Church traditions
Lenten and Holy Week traditions
At the start of the Lenten season, owners of privately owned religious images that were handed down from generations put up an exhibit of their religious icons on the church's hall. The exhibit has one of the largest collection of images depicting the passion of Christ.[8] The exhibit usually ran from Ash Wednesday up to Holy Monday. On Holy Tuesday, a procession of miniature poon carried by children along the church patio takes place. From Holy Wednesday up to Good Friday, locals processed their religious images around the town.
The most famous poon during the Holy Week celebration is Mariano Cagahastian Madriñan's replica of his own work of Mater Dolorosa. Madriñan, Paete's hero received a diploma of award and the King Alfonso XII of Spain Medal of Honor for his Mater Dolorosa work in 1882 which was exhibited at the International Exposition held in Amsterdam.[8] The image of the Mother of Sorrows was known for its movable parts with excellent articulation. During procession, the image could be made to embrace the statue of Christ carrying His cross, look up to gaze at St. Veronica's veil and bless her with the sign of the cross.[8] The image of St. Veronica could also move its hand to show the veil imprinted with Christ's face.
Salibanda
The celebration of Salibanda is celebrated every third week of January. It marks the end of the Christmas season in Paete and the feast of the Infant Jesus (or Santo Niño).[8] It starts with a fluvial parade along with an image of Santo Niño and followed by a dance procession to the church.
Feast of San Antonio Abad
The feast of San Antonio Abad, Paete's secondary patron is celebrated every January 17. A small stone chapel or ermita dedicated to the Saint Anthony is located near the main church.[3][8]
In December 2019, Typhoon Ursula flooded the church[15].
In July 24, 2021, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake in Calatagan, Batangas caused damage to the church, where visible cracks were seen. In September of the same year, Typhoon Jolina damaged the church's roof[16].
Negotiations for conservation spearheaded by the Parish pastoral council, the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Jose, Regalado Trota Jr. (1987). "The Church of Paete in 1807: Ecclesiastical Decorations and Furnishings". Philippine Studies. 35 (1): 93–102.–viaJSTOR(subscription required)
External links
Media related to Paete Church at Wikimedia Commons
Paete, officially the Municipality of Paete, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 24,945 people.
Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba is a Marian title, a venerated Marian icon and image associated to the Our Lady of Sorrows, The town of Pakil in the province of Laguna considers her as its patroness.
The Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, commonly known as the Tayabas Basilica, is a Roman Catholic basilica located in Tayabas, Quezon, Philippines, under the Diocese of Lucena. Its titular saint is Michael the Archangel, whose feast is celebrated every September 29.
Santiago Apostol Parish Church, commonly known as Betis Church, is a Baroque-style church located in the Betis District of Guagua in Pampanga, Philippines under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando. The church was established in 1607 and dedicated to Saint James the Greater, the Apostle. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
The Santa Monica Parish Church, commonly known as the Minalin Church, is a Baroque Roman Catholic church, located in poblacion area of San Nicolas in Minalin, Pampanga, Philippines. The church, built during the Spanish era, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Museum of the Philippines on August 27, 2011, one of 37 churches in the country bestowed that honor.
The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light, commonly known as Cainta Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church located along Andres Bonifacio Avenue in Barangay San Andres, Cainta, Rizal, in the Philippines. The church also operates a neighboring school, Cainta Catholic College. From its time of erection as a parish in 1760 until 1983, it belonged to the Archdiocese of Manila. It was placed under the newly created Diocese of Antipolo in 1983, which is now headed by Ruperto C. Santos. It belongs to the Vicariate of Our Lady of Light.
Saint Peter of Alcantara Parish Church, designated as the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba, is a Roman Catholic church in Pakil, Laguna, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of San Pablo and enshrines the Our Lady of Turumba painting.
Saint Jerome Parish Church, commonly known as Morong Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Morong, Rizal, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Antipolo. The church was built during the Spanish period in the country, with stones from a hill called Kay Ngaya; lime from the stones of the mountain Kay Maputi; and sand and gravel from Morong River.
Santo Domingo Church, formally known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila, is a Roman Catholic national shrine and parish church in Quezon City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. Dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus under her title Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary — La Naval de Manila, it was founded by the Dominicans in 1587.
Saint Gregory the Great Parish Church, commonly known as Majayjay Church, is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines located in the municipality of Majayjay in Laguna. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of San Pablo. The church is recognized by the National Museum as a National Cultural Treasure.
Santo Tomás de Villanueva Parish Church, commonly known as Miagao Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Jaro. The church was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993, together with San Agustin Church in Manila; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; and San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a collection of four Baroque Spanish-era churches.
Saint John the Baptist Parish Church, commonly known as Liliw Church or Lilio Church, is one of the Roman Catholic churches in Liliw, Laguna, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of San Pablo. Its feast is celebrated every August 29 known as the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. The church is known for its red bricked façade and baroque style architecture.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church, designated as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, of the Diocese of San Pablo, is the only Roman Catholic church in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines. It the oldest church in the country under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose image was a gift from Mexico.
The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Candelaria, commonly known as Silang Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church in the municipality of Silang, in the province of Cavite, Philippines under the Diocese of Imus. Its titular is the Our Lady of Candelaria. The church is known for its Spanish colonial architectural style and the rococo-influenced retablos. It is the oldest existing stone church in the province of Cavite, having been completed in 1639.
Santa Cruz Parish Church, also known as Holy Cross Parish Church and Maribojoc Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church in the municipality of Maribojoc, Bohol, Philippines, under the Diocese of Tagbilaran. The parish was first established by the Jesuits in 1767 or 1768 with Father Juan Soriano, SJ as its first parish priest. The Augustinian Recollects later administered the community until 1898.
Immaculate Conception Parish Church, also known as La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church and Baclayon Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. Baclayon was founded by the Jesuit priest Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sánchez in 1596, and became the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol. It was elevated as a parish in 1717 and the present coral stone church was completed in 1727. The Augustinian Recollects succeeded the Jesuits in 1768 and heavily renovated the church since then.
The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Mary Magdalene, commonly known as Pililla Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in the municipality of Pililla, Rizal, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Antipolo. The church was built by the Franciscans in 1583, under the patronage of Saint Mary Magdalene. It is a few kilometers away from San Ildefonso Parish Church, a historical church in Tanay.
San Pedro Apostol Parish Church, commonly known as Loboc Church and alternatively as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Loboc, Bohol, Philippines, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.
The Nuestra Señora de la Luz Parish Church, also known as Our Lady of Light Parish Church and commonly as Loon Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church in the municipality of Loon, Bohol, Philippines, under the Diocese of Tagbilaran. The parish was established by the Jesuits in 1753 and the original stone church was built from 1855 to 1864. It was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.
San Bartolome Parish Church, commonly known as Malabon Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in San Agustin, Malabon, Metro Manila, Philippines. The church's titular is Malabon's patron saint, Saint Bartholomew the Apostle whose feast day falls on every 24th day of August. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Kalookan.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
